Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
|
Jacinth-Ambrosia is the world’s largest zircon mine.
Jacinth-Ambrosia mining activities, which were idled in April 2016, were restarted in December 2017 as planned. |
Source:
p. 1
Summary:
Iluka’s Jacinth-Ambrosia operation in South Australia is the world’s largest zircon mine. Comprising two contiguous deposits, Jacinth and Ambrosia.
Summary:
Dry mining and concentration of ore through gravity separation occurs on site.
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
Dry mining and ore concentrating activities occur on site and produce a heavy mineral concentrate through gravity separation. The heavy mineral concentrate is transported to Iluka’s mineral separation facilities in Australia for the production of final products of zircon, rutile and ilmenite.
Wet Concentrator:
- Vibrating screens to remove grit from ore slurry
- Cyclones remove fine material (clay/slimes) from ore slurry
- slimes to thickener
- sand fraction to spirals
- Surge bin de-couples mining unit from concentrator and regulates feed to spirals
- Spirals use gravity to separate heavy minerals from quartz
- Heavy mineral concentrate dewatered and stockpiled
- Some sand stacked (in-pit tails cell construction)
- Remaining sand is pumped to cells with slimes
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2018 | 2017 |
|
Zircon
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| 62.9 | 65.9 |
|
Rutile
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| ......  | ...... |
|
Ilmenite
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| ...... | ...... |
|
Heavy Minerals
|
Head Grade, %
| ...... | |
|
Heavy Minerals
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| ...... | |
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Reserves at December 31, 2018:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
3.1 Mt
|
Zircon
|
48 %
|
|
|
Proven
|
3.1 Mt
|
Rutile
|
5 %
|
|
|
Proven
|
3.1 Mt
|
Ilmenite
|
29 %
|
|
|
Proven
|
88 Mt
|
Heavy Minerals
|
3.5 %
|
3.1 Mt
|
|
Probable
|
0.1 Mt
|
Zircon
|
52 %
|
|
|
Probable
|
0.1 Mt
|
Rutile
|
4 %
|
|
|
Probable
|
0.1 Mt
|
Ilmenite
|
20 %
|
|
|
Probable
|
4 Mt
|
Heavy Minerals
|
2.2 %
|
0.1 Mt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
3.2 Mt
|
Zircon
|
48 %
|
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
3.2 Mt
|
Rutile
|
5 %
|
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
3.2 Mt
|
Ilmenite
|
29 %
|
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
92 Mt
|
Heavy Minerals
|
3.5 %
|
3.2 Mt
|
|
Measured
|
6.4 Mt
|
Zircon
|
42 %
|
|
|
Measured
|
6.4 Mt
|
Rutile
|
4 %
|
|
|
Measured
|
6.4 Mt
|
Ilmenite
|
3 %
|
|
|
Measured
|
218 Mt
|
Heavy Minerals
|
2.9 %
|
6.4 Mt
|
|
Indicated
|
8.1 Mt
|
Zircon
|
20 %
|
|
|
Indicated
|
8.1 Mt
|
Rutile
|
2 %
|
|
|
Indicated
|
8.1 Mt
|
Ilmenite
|
65 %
|
|
|
Indicated
|
85 Mt
|
Heavy Minerals
|
9.5 %
|
8.1 Mt
|
|
Inferred
|
3.7 Mt
|
Zircon
|
20 %
|
|
|
Inferred
|
3.7 Mt
|
Rutile
|
2 %
|
|
|
Inferred
|
3.7 Mt
|
Ilmenite
|
60 %
|
|
|
Inferred
|
74 Mt
|
Heavy Minerals
|
5.1 %
|
3.7 Mt
|
|
Total Resource
|
18.2 Mt
|
Zircon
|
28 %
|
|
|
Total Resource
|
18.2 Mt
|
Rutile
|
3 %
|
|
|
Total Resource
|
18.2 Mt
|
Ilmenite
|
53 %
|
|
|
Total Resource
|
377 Mt
|
Heavy Minerals
|
4.8 %
|
18.2 Mt
|
Aerial view:
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